Naxal violence has claimed 455 lives this year

As many as 455 people (255 civilians and 200 security personnel) have been killed in Naxal violence this year, reveal figures released by the Home Ministry.

The Naxal-infested states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand account for 60 per cent of the total deaths in the country in this period.

While Chhattisgarh topped the list with 148 deaths, Jharkhand recorded 122 deaths. On the other hand, of the 107 Naxals killed in the same period, 63 were in Chhattisgarh.

The figures also reveal that Chhattisgarh is the state worst-hit by Naxal violence. In the last three years, the state had topped the list.

In 2008, 242 of the total 721 Naxal-related deaths in the country were reported from the state. In 2007, 369 out of 1,565 Naxal-related deaths in the country were reported from Chhattisgarh, and in 2006, 388 out of 678 deaths.

"On the basis of Naxalite violence profile, 83 districts in nine Naxal affected states have been included under the Security related Expenditure Scheme, which is meant for reimbursing the expenditure incurred for anti-Naxal operations by the states," Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken said in reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

He added that the Naxals have so far attacked 56 economic targets this year. The increasing frequency, with which the Naxals have been hitting economic targets, is alarming. The corresponding figures for the years 2006, 2007, and 2008 were 71, 80, and 109.